ODU MONARCHS (20-14/8-7) Vs. ECU Pirates (20-13/8-4)
Bud Metheny Baseball Complex - Located on 43rd street & Parker Avenue
Friday (6 p.m.) Saturday (4 pm.) Sunday (1 p.m)
Tickets: $5 adults $4 for Faculty Staff, children, & Military
$3 for groups of 10 or more
NOTE ON SATURDAY: If you present your Big Blue BBQ ticket or ODU 5K racing bib, you will be admitted free to Saturday's game.
NORFOLK, VA--The Baseball Monarchs (20-14/8-7) host the Pirates of East Carolina (20-13/8-4) in a three-game Conference USA series beginning Friday evening at 6 p.m. in the Bud Metheny Baseball Complex. Saturday's game will be at 4 p.m. with Sunday's contest starting at 1.
ECU is led by Zach Houchins (.341/13 RBI), followed by Drew Reynolds (.333/15 RBI), while Ian Townsend is hitting .298 with three homers and 23 RBI. ECU is hitting .271 as a team with a 2.69 ERA.
The Pirates are scheduled to start righthander Jeff Hoffman (2-3/3.40) on Friday, lefthander Reid Love (2-2/3.35) on Saturday and righthander David Lucroy (1-3/4.91) on Sunday.
SERIES: ECU leads 42-31. THe Monarchs won last year's meeting, 5-3 at ECU.
Sophomore PJ Higgins leads ODU with a .342 batting average with 50 total hits, 13 doubles along with 22 RBI. Outfielder Taylor Ostrich is hitting .318 with eight doubles and 13 RBI. Senior firstbaseman Josiah Burney leads the team with five homers and 27 RBI and has 11 doubles, while leftfielder Josh Eldridge has 22 RBI.
The Monarchs are scheduled to throw lefthander Andy Roberts (3-0/2.72) on Friday, lefthander Ryan Yarbrough (3-4/2.96) on Saturday and righthander Victor Diaz (1-2/2.45) on Sunday.
The Monarchs enter the game with a .280 team batting average and a 3.33 team ERA. The Monarchs rank 18th in the latest NCAA statistics in team fielding at .978.
CONFERENCE USA GAMES THIS WEEKEND & STANDINGS
UAB 9-3 23-10
UTSA 8-4 22-11
Rice 10-5 22-12
ECU 8-4 20-13
So. Miss 8-4 19-15
FIU 8-7 24-9
ODU 8-7 20-14
Mid. Tenn 8-7 15-18
Marshall 7-7 13-18
Tulane 6-8 14-17
FAU 5-10 17-15
LA Tech 3-12 9-21
Charlotte 1-11 8-22-1
Charlotte at Florida Atlantic
FIU at Louisiana Tech
Marshall at UTSA
Southern MIss at UAB
Rice at Tulane
Mississippi Valley at Middle Tennessee
ODU LEADERS
Runs – Slaton 27
Hits – Higgins 50
RBI- Burney 27
Doubles – Higgins 13
Homeruns – Burney 5
Stolen bases: Myers (9)
Saves: Gero (6)
Appearances –Gero (20)
COMPARING THE TEAMS
ODU ECU
Hitting: .280 .271
Runs : 200 .146
2B: 71 36
3B: 5 5
HR: 13 10
BB: 130 119
SO: 203 188
SB: 30-40 27-42
FLD: .978 .969
ERA: 3.33 2.69
CG: 1 1
SHO: 2 3
SAV: 10 8
SECOND ANNUAL BARK IN THE PARK GAME ON APRIL 18TH
For the second year in a row, ODU Baseball is partnering with the Norfolk SPCA to host "Bark in the Park" night at the Bud Metheny Baseball Complex. On April 18th, the Baseball Monarchs will host the UTSA Roadrunners and fans can bring their dogs into the game for the only time this season. A special area in Rally Alley will be reserved for pets and their owners.
There will be an ODU travel dog bowl give-a-way for the first 250 fans in attendance and the Norfolk SPCA will be on hand with adoptable pets and treats. Canine games and a "doggie activities area" will also be available in Rally Alley to entertain all the four-legged guests in attendance.
Fans can bring donations for the SPCA and receive a $2 discount off a ticket to the game. Tickets are $5 at the gate or purchase an ODU Baseball season voucher book for only $50 and receive 32 admissions vouchers, good for any game. Donations accepted will be canned pet food, bleach, paper towels, cat litter and detergent, while cash donations will not be accepted.
ODU VS. TOP RANKED VIRGINIA ON APRIL 29 AT HARBOR PARK
Mark your calendar for Tuesday, April 29th as the ODU Monarchs take on No. 1 Virginia at Harbor Park in Downtown Norfolk. Game time is 7 p.m. and general admission seats are available for just $5 or $7 at the Gate. Vouchers from the ODU season voucher book will also be accepted at this game. Get tickets at ynottix.com or call the athletic ticket office at 757-683-4444.